Scania challenges truck drivers and promotes road safety – again

The world’s largest truck driver competition and training event, Scania Driver Competitions, tests drivers for the fifth year in 2012.

To date, more than 100,000 truck drivers from all over the world have participated in Scania Driver Competitions, making it the world’s largest truck driver competition and training event. The fifth edition, planned for 2012, will be organised in more than 40 countries.

Fuel economy, road safety and maneuvering tests as well as knowledge about securing cargo are just a few of the things drivers will have to master to be successful at Scania Driver Competitions 2012.

“Scania Driver Competitions’ goal is to increase the interest in, and subsequently attract more people to, a profession that in recent years has become highly demanding,” says Erik Ljungberg, Senior Vice President, Corporate Relations, Scania.

By participating in the high-profile Scania Driver Competitions, drivers focus on enhancing their driving skills. Consequently, road safety increases and the environmental impact caused by hauling is reduced. This latter point will be crucial in the near future as transport volumes are likely to increase.

“Scania wants to be a part of the solution to increase road safety and decrease the transport industry’s environmental impact,” Ljungberg says. “Scania Driver Competitions focuses on the single most important factor to meet these challenges: the driver.”

According to the European Parliament study, Shortage of Qualified Personnel in Road Freight Transport, skilled drivers will be in high demand over the next few years. In 2008, the shortage of drivers in Europe was estimated at 70,000. The study suggests a set of measures to address the shortage, such as improving the image of the sector and improving driver skills and qualifications.

The quest for the world’s best heavy truck driver begins in December this year when applicants from all over the world will be invited to register for the Scania Driver Competitions 2012.

Scania is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks and buses for heavy transport applications, and of industrial and marine engines. Service-related products is a growing proportion of the company’s operations, assuring Scania customers of cost-effective transport solutions and maximum uptime. Scania also provides financial services. Employing some 35,500 people, Scania operates in about 100 countries. Research and development activities are concentrated in Sweden, while production takes place in Europe and South America, with facilities for global interchange of both components and complete vehicles. In 2010, net sales totalled SEK 78 billion and net income amounted to SEK 9.1 billion. Scania press releases are available on www.scania.com (http://www.scania.com/)